Can anyone recommend:
- Some replacement shoes for my Shimano MT23? Requirements - cheap, lace up, reasonably light
- A replacement car for my 59 plate Corsa? Requirements - starts, cheap to run, sub 5k (used), easy to get 1 bike in the back (2 + luggage at a push). Had a look this morning at some local places and cars seem to have jumped up in price a bit over the last few years.

Morning, damp here. Being thrown out of my office at 12 as my bosses are moving to third base with some investors they have ensnared. I saw a big pot of Vaseline in the middle of the meeting room earlier.

Can anyone recommend:
- Some replacement shoes for my Shimano MT23? Requirements - cheap, lace up, reasonably light
- A replacement car for my 59 plate Corsa? Requirements - starts, cheap to run, sub 5k (used), easy to get 1 bike in the back (2 + luggage at a push). Had a look this morning at some local places and cars seem to have jumped up in price a bit over the last few years.

DBH shoes, whatever mondeo you can afford. Dirt cheap to run and there are so many about second hand that they are worth very little.

Morning, damp here. Being thrown out of my office at 12 as my bosses are moving to third base with some investors they have ensnared. I saw a big pot of Vaseline in the middle of the meeting room earlier.

Can anyone recommend:
- Some replacement shoes for my Shimano MT23? Requirements - cheap, lace up, reasonably light
- A replacement car for my 59 plate Corsa? Requirements - starts, cheap to run, sub 5k (used), easy to get 1 bike in the back (2 + luggage at a push). Had a look this morning at some local places and cars seem to have jumped up in price a bit over the last few years.

DBH shoes, whatever mondeo you can afford. Dirt cheap to run and there are so many about second hand that they are worth very little.

I use the DHB's to commute, not had a problem with them.

Car wise a Mondeo or Passat, Picking up a Passat later today paid a little more than your budget but their are lots of both about in the 5K range.
The estate which I'm picking up the boot is vast plus comes with rails on the roof so plenty of options.

Work today, drove the hire car in and getting a lift shortly to pick up the new one (woo) someones in trouble in the IT division here the entire STP phone systems gone nope an turned off which means very little being done today. Its hard enough calling someone up to tell them how to setup a remote video feed let alone trying to email idiot proof guides.

Anyway later shall be pub, pint and pie which isn't a bad end for a Thursday, see if it stays dry!

Car wise a Mondeo or Passat, Picking up a Passat later today paid a little more than your budget but their are lots of both about in the 5K range.

Mondeos and Passats might be a bit on the large size, although obviously that's good for getting a bike in. Not keen on a roof rack - again it's handy for bikes but unless you take the bike mount things off it's a bit of an advert to the thieving scrotes that you have a bike or two..
The Corsa is OK size wise (happy to take wheels off bikes etc.) but the seats don't fold flat, and it just doesn't really work properly. The C3 I had before was similar (good size, better shaped boot but kept catching fire).

Work today, drove the hire car in and getting a lift shortly to pick up the new one (woo) someones in trouble in the IT division here the entire STP phone systems gone nope an turned off which means very little being done today.

Afternoon folks,
Traditional Thursday morning hangover is still in evidence, think that was something to do with the beer. Out for a beer with the lad tonight as well.
Fairly busy morning has been had catching up after yesterday. Had to shoot out and get the cakes as well. Feeling quite full now for some reason. Didn't manage to wobble in as I had to bring the EPO's old bike in as one of the girl's here wants to buy it. Hopefully that will go as I have another frame coming as well. Whoops. Looks like I'm in the process of going N+2. Might have to look into one of those metal bike sheds for the front garden.

A morning of meetings (yawn) but at least I'm going out a drink after work so I have some motivation for later on. Had my annual review as well - they admitted they wanted to keep me so cue more negotiations next year

Mondeos and Passats might be a bit on the large size, although obviously that's good for getting a bike in. Not keen on a roof rack - again it's handy for bikes but unless you take the bike mount things off it's a bit of an advert to the thieving scrotes that you have a bike or two..
The Corsa is OK size wise (happy to take wheels off bikes etc.) but the seats don't fold flat, and it just doesn't really work properly. The C3 I had before was similar (good size, better shaped boot but kept catching fire).

Do you share your IT with the TSB guys?

Pretty sure we have shares in them the amount of issues, an the whole TSB IT chaos things has caused no end of problems.

I would say fire isn't a good feature on a car. Maybe something like an Astra or Focus? Kind of the next size up, not sure if the seats go totally flat though.
The rack is basically factory fit rails on the roof seems to be something on the bulk of the estates from what I've seen. But ill agree it is a large car, could sit four people in the boot without too much fuss.

Have to agree Hayden, Looked at a golf estate wasn't rubbish compared to the spec of the Passat that was going for less with half the mileage.

I don't think it could be called fancy, mildly terrifying perhaps:
The other one is an old Italian steel road bike frame I bought a while back, had it delivered to a customer and he's only just got round to sending it to me.

I still steal the Dates old (2011) one for hauling dog, kit bag and bike around. Wouldn't want to add much more to the load except a person in the front seat. Bought something bigger for her recently so it ticks the car over for us.

Re car - don't even look at anything resembling a new/last year's Corsa: I had one as a hire car two weeks ago and it was appalling: handled rubbish, appalling brakes, rubbish engine. Fezza and i10 are much much better.

only a bit over 75km in the end, banging headwind for the first half, on the plus side a high-speed run back, another free cafe solo in the cafe under the volcano, slice of tortilla and a cake on the way back, nom, back home for lunch, and a few hours on the sunbed to summon up energy for dinner

Short or medium wheel base crew cab transit van. You'll get a lot of van for £5k.
Cheap to run.
Cheap on parts.
Cheap insurance.
Short wheel base is shorter than a Mondeo/faux exec car.
Enough room to put the bike in the back with the wheels on/go camping/go camp/go swing/go dog.

Me trying to plumb bath and sink in me. £200 lighter after buying various bits and pieces.
Then the stop censored decides to jam and I can't even test it. Well, that is until I drain the system and replace the SC seal :roll: